Teamwork delivers 3A Baseball Championship

Tuesday

May 5, 2009 at 11:04 AM

In a game where numbers mean nearly everything, the most significant one for the Eastside High School baseball was 15.

By JOHN CLAYTONFor The Greer Herald

In a game where numbers mean nearly everything, the most significant one for the Eastside High School baseball was 15.It had been 15 years since the Eagles won their last outright region title, a string that ended this past week with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Wade Hampton. The win delivered the third Peach Blossom 3A championship in Eastside history and an opening-round upper-state playoff matchup against Pickens."This has been really satisfying," said Eastside Head Coach Scott Erwin of his team's ascension to the top of the region. "With these guys and the work they've put in and the way they've pulled together, it's really satisfying."And unexpected.The Eagles lost six seniors, including five starters, off last year's team, but rebuilding was not in the plans for this year's squad."Chemistry does mean something in this game," said Erwin. "These guys have shown up and taken it one game at a time all year. They've picked one another up all season - you've hardly heard a word if somebody struck out or made an error in the field. They've been supportive of each other."Eastside finished the regular season at 10-7 overall and 7-3 in the region. The 3-4 out-of-conference record is more a reflection against tough, bigger competition against teams such as Mauldin and Easley than the Eagles' deficiencies."Sometimes our guys took some lumps, but it wouldn't do us any good to schedule someone I thought we'd go out and (beat by 10 runs)," Erwin said.The region schedule wasn't easy either, but the Eagles' pitching staff answered the bell, allowing less than three runs per conference game."It takes a load off our offense," said sophomore Connell Anderson, an effective right-handed relief pitcher/outfielder who has also batted over .300 from the left side of the plate this season. "Our pitching has carried us all year."

The Eastside players practiced in shorts for the first time in two years in preparation for Pickens. - it was a relaxed practice but a good one, Erwin said.The staff includes Drake Thomason, Austen Barber, Blake McClimon, Austin Mason, Zack Smith, Brandan Steffan and Anderson.Regardless of what happens as the Class 3A playoffs get under way, a monumental championship left the team loose and a bit relieved to have a long-awaited trophy in hand. This year's squad features five seniors, including Barber, McClimon and Smith, but also is laden with nine juniors who don't want to wait another 15 years for a championship."It is a relief - and it's exciting to be a part of this," said Anderson of the championship season. "It's something that hasn't happened in a while."